During a Hamilton County Commission agenda session this morning Commissioner Joe Graham maintained his position on discretionary funding, promising "no" votes on requests that would be funded with discretionary money from a budget he opposed.
Graham's position on the money launched discussion in about half of the resolutions - including some nonprofit organizations - on the list before commissioners involving discretionary spending and the prior year's budget.
Graham said he didn't oppose what the nonprofits want to do, just how the commissioners want to fund the requests with discretionary money.
Graham said he was at his "wit's end" on how to deal with discretionary spending. Graham was among three commissioners who voted against the override of Mayor Jim Coppinger's June veto of the county budget that contained $900,000 of discretionary funds drawn from county reserves.
Graham said his actions reflect the wishes of his constituents.
"It's not right of me to vote to support spending fund balance money that I was totally against all along in every vote," he said.
Other commissioners seemed frustrated with Graham's questioning, while Commissioner Greg Beck, who also voted against the June override, defended Graham's position.
Commissioner Tim Boyd said the county's investment of discretionary funding was important in filling voids in services that county residents need.
Boyd said the county gets "an incredible return" on such investments.
For complete details, see tomorrow's Chattanooga Times Free Press.